Hi all, I'm new to the forum, diagnosed about ten months ago but still sometimes struggling to cope (prior to my diagnosis a doctor suggested that new shoes would make my pain go away, and that the pain was essentially "my fault".)

After acute lifelong urinary symptoms, I was diagnosed several years ago with Interstitial Cystitis. Since then, I've learned that it is often associated w/ FMS. Treatment options seem limited - I've been on various painkillers (including antidepressants like amytriptyline) over the years, watched my diet and avoided exacerbating exercise but I'm still often in a great deal of pain. The IC symptoms combined w/ the FMS natually pose a huge challenge to my marriage (i.e., sex life, among other challenges). Anyone out there suffering from IC as well who has any lifestyle/treatment/coping tips?